The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Torrington’s Hotchkiss-Fyler House open for holiday tours
TORRINGTON — The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, 192 Main Street, Torrington, is once again decorated for the Christmas season, taking on a special ambiance as trees, lights, and various Christmas decorations sparkle against the richly embellished interior of this historic home.
During the Christmas season, guided tours of the first floor will be available to visitors. Tours continue until Dec. 30. Hours are Thursdays through Sundays, noon-4 p.m. and the last tour is at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; free to Torrington Historical Society members. Children 12 and under are free. The house museum will be closed on Christmas Day.
At Christmas, the house takes on a particularly festive look. This year, the woodwork and richly embellished interior will be accented with touches of white, poinsettias, wreaths and several Christmas trees.
The rooms on the first floor are decorated with an array of Christmas trees and greenery. One of the many trees feature antique ornaments from a private collection while others are decorated with vintage ornaments from the society’s collection and antique toys from the society’s collection are also on display. In addition, the dining room table is set for Christmas dinner with the fine china, crystal, silverware, and linens that belonged to Gertrude Fyler Hotchkiss.
One of Connecticut’s best house museums, the Hotchkiss-Fyler House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A tour of this house provides visitors with a rare opportunity to view an historic home as it was when last occupied. Built in 1900, the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum was home to the Hotchkiss and Fyler families for more than half a century until 1956 when it was bequeathed to the Torrington Historical Society by Gertrude Fyler Hotchkiss. The interior features impressive woodwork, painted and stenciled walls, original furnishings and collections of fine and decorative arts.
The Torrington Historical Society always welcomes new members. Join now and your tour is free. For more information, call 860-482-8260 or visit www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org.